Senior Night spoiled

MOSES LAKE - Bad stretches by both teams highlighted a match that wasn't decided until double overtime.

Moses Lake held a 2-0 lead four about a 40-minute period after two goals in the first half by Alysha Overland and Liz McGraw. The lead held for much of the second half until multiple defensive breakdowns allowed West Valley (Yakima) to even the match in just three minutes.

With eight minutes to go in the match, the two titans of the Columbia Basin Big Nine were locked in a 2-2 tie.

After a scoreless first overtime period, a cross by West Valley redirected off Abby Rathbun's foot into the net and the Rams stunned the Chiefs on Senior Night 3-2.

A joyous West Valley squad celebrated on the field as a dejected Chiefs team walked toward the sideline.

"We're just going to use it as motivation and come back stronger the next time we play them," Stephanie Overland said, "It would've been nice if they would've earned that win because we dominated the field, but I mean they can take that and celebrate how they want because we already beat them at their place and we can beat them again."

Moses Lake (9-1, 11-1-1) had an opportunity to at least clinch a share of the CBBN title with a win. Thursday's loss puts even more of a paramount on winning the next two road matches against Davis and Wenatchee. A loss would surely jeopardize home field advantage in the district playoffs.

"We need to win out these last two games," head coach Ric Char said. "These last two games are super crucial for us. They (West Valley) needs to win out these last two games too to stay in it. If we can do that then the next head-to-head tiebreaker would be points and we're well ahead of that."

Alysha scored her 28th goal of the season off a free kick by McGraw with 16 minutes to go. The senior forward gathered the ball, moved across the goal and chipped the ball past the Rams' keeper.

Just four minutes later, McGraw controlled a botched free kick by West Valley - and with the Rams' goalkeeper out of position - fired a shot from 30 yards out that nestled in to the bottom right corner of the goal, giving the Chiefs a 2-0 lead. Alysha looked to break the match open late in the first half, but her header careened off the crossbar.

Moses Lake's defense kept West Valley in check for the majority of the second half until a cross was redirected past Jeanette Alvardo with 11 minutes to go. The Rams tied the match three minutes later on a corner kick.

"They're pretty even teams," Char said. "We knew it was going to be a challenge for us and we didn't overlook them and rightfully so. They came back and look what happened."

West Valley would get the game-winner in double overtime and hand Moses Lake it's first CBBN loss in over a year.

Despite the bitter end to the final home match of the year this group of seniors will go down as one of the best in Moses Lake history.

"It's been a great four years," McKenna Walker said. "I think Ric, when we came in our freshman year, he knew we were going to be a great group of seniors and I think it's definitely going to be different without us next year."

Moses Lake girls soccer seniors: Janelle Fox, Emma Deering, Casci Carpenter, Liz McGraw, Alysha Overland, McKenna Walker, Mikaela Loudon, Belen Longoria, Stephanie Overland and Jeanette Alvardo.

Warden 4, Granger 1

GRANGER - Warden got goals from four different players and routed Granger, 4-1.

Rebekah Richins scored off a Brenna Whitney assist, followed by Tania Dominguez from Jennifer Mendoza. Dominguez returned the favor, assisting on Mendoza's goal.

Savanna Edson rounded out the scoring with a goal from Dominguez.

Warden (2-0, 9-5-1) ends its regular season Thursday at Royal.

Other Basin scores

Wapato 5, Othello 0